SNF QRP Help Desk Q&A and October 2018 Updates Posted

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® CMS posted the most recent SNF Quality Reporting Program Questions and Answers as well as an October 2018 Quarterly Update document on November 14, 2018 (the date provided for website modification). “This document (12 pages) is intended to provide guidance on questions that were received…… Continue reading SNF QRP Help Desk Q&A and October 2018 Updates Posted

Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Chapter 7

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® On November 16, 2018, CMS posted the revised Chapter 7 – Survey and Enforcement Process for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing Facilities. The revisions were announced via Transmittal 185, noting that they “reflect the guidance related to the Immediate Imposition of Federal Remedies. Sections of…… Continue reading Revisions to the State Operations Manual (SOM) Chapter 7

Fact Sheet on Transitions for New Quality Measures and Data Elements – SNF QRP

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® Last week on November 6th, CMS posted a 2-page Fact Sheet on Transitions for New Quality Measures and Data Elements, Effective October 1, 2018.   [SNF Quality Reporting Program FAQs website is where FAQ documents on SNF QRP have been posted since June 2017.] This Fact…… Continue reading Fact Sheet on Transitions for New Quality Measures and Data Elements – SNF QRP

Guidance for LTC Leaders Planning to Implement an Influenza Vaccination Requirement Policy for Health Care Personnel to Improve Influenza Vaccination

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® While implementing a mandatory influenza vaccination policy for health care personnel is not required by the federal government or any regulatory agency, employers can influence the vaccination status of their employees.  “Influenza vaccination requirements work; they are the only intervention that have consistently raised influenza…… Continue reading Guidance for LTC Leaders Planning to Implement an Influenza Vaccination Requirement Policy for Health Care Personnel to Improve Influenza Vaccination

Briggs Healthcare acquires Selman-Holman & Associates to expand home health compliance portfolio

Consulting acquisition bolsters compliance solutions for home health agencies and hospices and expands Briggs’ post-acute regulatory and clinical offerings WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, Nov. 1, 2018 – Today Briggs Healthcare announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Selman-Holman & Associates. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Briggs, Selman-Holman will continue to expand…… Continue reading Briggs Healthcare acquires Selman-Holman & Associates to expand home health compliance portfolio

[breaking news] CMS issued a final rule (CMS-1689-FC) that updates the Medicare HH PPS rates & wage index for CY 2019

Sharon Hamilton RN, MS Briggs Healthcare Clinical Consultant CMS-1689-F The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule (CMS-1689-FC) that updates the Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates and wage index for calendar year (CY) 2019. The final rule results in a 2.2 percent increase ($420 million) in payments to…… Continue reading [breaking news] CMS issued a final rule (CMS-1689-FC) that updates the Medicare HH PPS rates & wage index for CY 2019

Review Your Five-Star Preview Report Carefully – There is an Identified Issue

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® On October 23, 2018, CMS posted this information for providers: Notice: Five Star Preview Reports Oct 23, 2018 The Five Star Preview Reports will be available on October 25, 2018. To access these reports, select the CASPER Reporting link located on the CMS QIES Systems…… Continue reading Review Your Five-Star Preview Report Carefully – There is an Identified Issue

Assisted Living Residents Need Stronger Protections

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® The title of this blog (and an excerpted subtitle in one of the reports) sums up the findings of two (2) significant reports this year on the status of Assisted Living. The February 2018 GAO Report examined state and Federal oversight of assisted living services…… Continue reading Assisted Living Residents Need Stronger Protections

Inaugural Release of SNF QRP Data on Nursing Home Compare Website

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDP Clinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare® Today, October 24, 2018, “CMS is announcing the inaugural release of the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) quality data on Nursing Home (NH) Compare.  Section 1899B(g)(1) of the Social Security Act requires CMS to provide for the public reporting of SNF provider…… Continue reading Inaugural Release of SNF QRP Data on Nursing Home Compare Website